Hebrew you may hear around Temple
As a Reform congregation, we do use a bit of Hebrew in our services and in our daily life. Below are common Hebrew you might hear.
Greetings
| Transliteration | Meaning |
Hebrew |
Usage |
| Shalom or Shalom lekha | Peace. Peace to you. |
שָׁלוֹם |
As a common greeting equivalent to “hello” or “goodbye” “Good day” |
| Shalom aleikhem | Peace to you. |
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם |
As a common greeting equivalent to “hello” or “goodbye” “Good day” |
| Shabbat shalom | Good Sabbath |
שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם |
The greeting made on the Sabbath. Some may also say “Good Shabbos” or ‘Gut Shabbos” (Yiddish) |
| Chag same’ah | Joyous holiday |
חַג שָׂמֵחַ |
Used for any holiday occasion |
| L’Shanah tovah or Shanah tovah | To a good year |
לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה |
Greetings around Rosh Hashanah |
| Mazel tov | Good Luck or Congratulations |
מַזָּל טוֹב |
For joyous occasions, especially childbirth, betrothal, wedding, bar-mitzvah, etc.… |
Hebrew during prayers:
|
TRANSLITERATION |
ENGLISH |
HEBREW |
| Avoteinu |
Our Fathers |
אֲבוֹתֵינוּ |
| Adam |
Man | אָדָם |
| Ahava | Love | אַהֲבָה |
| Or | Light | אוֹר |
| Ehad | One | אֶחָד |
| Ein | There is Not | אֵין |
| Imru | Let Us Say | אִמְרוּ |
| Emet | Truth | אֱמֶת |
| Eretz | Land/Country | אֶרֶץ |
| Asher | That/Which/Who | אֲשֶׁר |
| Atah | You | אַתָה |
| Beit | House | בֵּית |
| Ben | Son | בֶּן |
| B’nai | Children/People | בְּנֵי |
| Barukh | Blessed | בָּרוּך |
| Gadol | Big/Great | גָדוֹל |
| Dor | Generation | דוֹר |
| Hu | He | הוּא |
| Vaed | Forever | וָעֶד |
| Z’man | Time | זְמַן |
| Hayim | Life | חַיִים |
| Hesed | Kindness | חֶסֶד |
| Tov | Good | טוֹב |
| Y’hee | May It Be | יְהִי |
| Yom | Day | יוֹם |
| Kavod | Honor/Respect | כָּבוֹד |
| Kee | Because/Since | כִּי |
| Kamokha | Like You | כָּמוֹךָ |
| Kein | Yes | כֵּן |
| Katuv | Written | כָּתוּב |
| Lo | No | לֹא |
| L’maan | For the Sake of | לְמַעַן |
| L’fanekha | Before You | לְפָנֶיךָ |
| Magen | Shield | מָגֵן |
| Mah | What | מַה |
| M’hayeh | Gives Life | מְחַיֵה |
| Mee | Who | מִי |
| Mayim | Water | מַיִם |
| Melekh | King | מֶלֶךְ |
| Norah | Awesome | נוֹרָא |
| Olam | World/Eternity | עוֹלָם |
| Am | People | עַם |
| Oseh | Make | עוֹשֶׂה |
| Kadosh | Holy | קָדוֹשׁ |
| Kol | Voice | קוֹל |
| Rahamim | Mercy | רַחֲמִים |
| Ratzon | Will | רָצוֹן |
| Shemo | His Name | שְׁמוֹ |
| Shamayim | Heavens | שָׁמַים |
| Tamid | Always | תָמִיד |